Shielding letter

[Bubblebu]

I have cancer, have had chemotherapy and surgery but still waiting to have radiotherapy - I registered with HMRC to obtain a shielding letter weeks ago and have chased them up again today but still heard nothing at all and not received a shielding letter. I have assumed I am in the very vulnerable category but I have not got a shielding letter- my boss (I am on sick leave) asked me to send in a copy of my shielding letter.

If you are in the vulnerable category have you received a letter confirming this and if yes how quickly did it come? Is it from the NHS or from the Government?

I had three letters, one from GP and others from two different hospitals, all about a month ago. Sound like you should shield as after all you're going through it's the last thing you need to catch the virus.

That's the list if it helps

@Bagelsandbrie yes my inhaler is on the list but I only take the 2 different steroids for the Addisons , none for the asthma so I assume that’s why I’m not on a list . I’m being extra careful anyway mainly due to family pressure .

I got 2 shielding letters pretty much identical
It seems to be the steroid use and the amount of medication needed for your control. The steroids make you immunisurpressed and the additional meds imply your lungs are severely under functioning.
Obviously if you have immuno suppression and or other organs underfunctioning you'll need shielding.
Blood cancers are shielded
As are solid organ recipients who have suppressed immunity and a vulnerable organ
Certain cancers and stages of treatment make you vulnerable and I'm not sure why they aren't shielded as well. I have a feeling shielded may have extra connotations going forward or even possibly would have been a criteria for filtering out who would (or not) receive treatment if the NHS became overwhelmed.

The classing categories have been made difficult to understand as they use vulnerable in both.
Vulnerable means basically the same as the rest of the population - you are social distancing. Extremely clinically vulnerable is the shielding group. Breast cancer in itself would put you in the vulnerable group I should think. Current chemo in the extremely. Can’t find link, but I think it’s 3 months post chemo too? You’re obviously having post treatment too re injection ref, but have a look at this link Q1. Ref lung mets, antibody treatments etc if on them then shielding group.

Didkit Q20 might put your mind at rest

Forgot to add, you should definitely be asking your consultant or doctor.

I have stage 4 breast cancer. I’m only in the shielded group due to the medication I take leaves me more immunosuppressed than when I was on chemo (protein kinase inhibitor). Having breast cancer doesn’t mean you’re shielded, it depends on what medication/chemo you’re on. Although I would think depending how long ago you were on chemo that your bloods wouldn’t have recovered yet. Normally they say takes 6 months to get close to normal or so I’ve been told. I’ve had 2 letters and numerous tests. I’d phone and check with your doctor/oncologist.

Texts not tests!

The doctor she spoke to said she didn't need to be on the list as her COPD is not that bad and she can go for a walk! She gets breathless bringing in her post.
I've got COPD, but I can carry on pretty much as normal, walking about and generally doing most things, haven't had a flair up for years, but they've got on the shielding list, think it must be because of combination of different inhalers I'm using, can't see any other reason for it.

Please call your Dr, the not knowing will add more stress.

I’m one of the groups that have bounced in and out and in of clinically vulnerable, much confusion all round. Dr called way way back in March and arranged vaccinations, told me to shield. Then I had nothing other than a text from gov when I registered saying my dr would confirm and to speak to them. I waited ages but finally called them last week as the not knowing was hard and I wanted to go for a walk, they confirmed shielding and got everything arranged for me, they were surprised I waited so long. Letter arrived Thursday and I can finally get shopping!

The dr really didn’t mind the call at all, they were great and understanding.

nonames - thank you that is really helpful I appreciate it

My husband has leukaemia and has had two letters (one from his GP and one from the NHS (not sure where this originated) and a text message. The first letter was March 22nd.

My DS finished chemo on 16th March for blood cancer, he got his first letter late March, second not long after. His consultant said the effects of his chemo will last a year, but he is very vulnerable for the first three months.

The letter does act as a sick note for 3 months. I would ring your GP and ask.

DH got two shielding letters, one from the NHS & one from his consultant. Before he ever got a letter (late March) he was getting texts. Still can't get on the vulnerable list with any supermarket except Tesco though.

I'm afraid he needs to tick the box that says he needs help obtaining food and medicine
I've finally done that. Fortunately it hasn't triggered food parcels as someone from the council phoned to ask if I needed one
But I haven't had any texts at all from the NHS

Yes, we discovered you had to tick the box, we didn't have want to take it away from someone that needed it, so we amended it & ticked the box. Hopefully someone will call before delivering the box. Still don't seem to be on the Ocado list though.

Mine only arrived on Friday. Clearly a delay with these being administered as it was due weeks ago according to my consultant

Yes me too for this:
My mum only received one last week. It seems to have been triggered by her requesting a repeat prescription.

For me it was a repeat prescription for tamoxifan. I had breast cancer last year, finished chemo in July, and yet I’m in the super dangerous shielding category (whatever the correct definition is). The letter arrived 10 days ago.

Definitely contact your go, but also you could start things yourself by filling in this:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

stayingaliveisawayoflife
My dad has similar COPD low kidney function insulin treated diabetes and HBP
I registered him for help on line but we got back the doctors letter saying he was vulnerable but but not in the shielding group

Got mine this morning - running a smidge late then!

My DF had a letter to shield he had cancer years ago finished chemo over 5years ago but apparently hes still classed as autoimmune. He Is early 60s with no other medical conditions

The lists were made based on IT trawls and although largely accurate are not completely accurate with some people having been sent letters when they probably weren't really in the shielding group and others not having been picked up by the software and thus not having got a letter. The gov.uk list above describes those who should be in the group but if you are interested sure ask your specialist, Macmillan nurse, crohn's and ulcerative colitis uk website, British thoracic society website for chest complaints, or your GP.

I was in the vulnerable category (for several reasons) but recently got a call from the NHS to say I was in the extremely vulnerable category but they couldn't tell me why and I haven't had a letter. I am struggling to get through to my GP to query it.

And I tried the GP again and the receptionist said they wouldn't know as it was the government deciding

Phone the consultant. I did this with my son (brittle asthma on 3 inhalers, montelukast, azythromycin and steroid tablets x8 a day) he phoned me and sent a letter to the gp saying my son needs to be shielded.